A group of 38 sophomore students from Kyoto Gakuen High School in Japan spent several days in Turlock as guests of Turlock High School’s Japanese Exchange Program.
Japanese students have been visiting THS annually for the past 25 years and each year they take home positive experiences learning about the English language and American culture.
In return, THS students also visit Japan — a place that has special meaning to THS Principal Marie Peterson, who was an exchange student there when she was in high school.
On Oct. 13, the students of Kyoto Gakuen treated THS students to a Japanese traditional group dance, a modern, youth movement dance and a three-person rock-band, Marimo’s, featuring students Kazuma Kitamura, Isamu Nakagawa and Marimo Kobayashi.
While at THS, the Japanese students met with students and staff, and were treated to the popular American food — pizza.
“The Japanese students often say their visit is too short,” said Peterson. “They wish they could stay longer.”
Kyoto Gakuen students returned to Japan on Oct. 14.
THS is one of the few high schools in the area that still teaches multiple foreign languages, including Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese and German.
